CANDLEMAKING businesswoman Jacqui Trump, pictured, has seen the light of using e-commerce to make a success of her firm.

The owner of CeltMyth Candles, based at Tredegar House, Newport, is now hoping to see her foresight rewarded by lifting a prize at a top e-commerce competition.

She is urging other small businesses to enter the Wales regional e-commerce awards organised by UK Online for Business/Interforum.

This year's Welsh regional heats are being sponsored by BT, the Wales Information Society (WIS) at the Welsh Development Agency and the National Assembly.

Set up last June, CeltMyth Candles is a small family-run business dedicated to providing personalised and decorated candles to individuals and companies throughout Wales and beyond.

This is the first business award the firm has entered.

"We set up our website last month and it has provided a very easy and cost-effective way to reach a national and international audience," said Ms Trump.

"So I decided to enter this year's awards. I feel strongly about the benefits that using the internet can bring to small businesses such as mine, and I encourage other businesses in the area to enter."

Since the launch of the CeltMyth Candles website, there has been a significant increase in the number of inquiries and sales, and within the next few weeks visitors to the website - celtmyth.co.uk - will be able to pay via credit card as well as by cheque.

CeltMyth has agreed a contract with Newport council to supply personalised Jubilee candles for the Queen's visit this summer.

Each of the four category winners in the Wales regional heat will collect £2,000 before going to the UK awards night in London, where the four national winners will each receive £8,000, with the top UK entry awarded an additional £30,000.

Rosemary O'Connor, director of the Wales Information Society, said: "This is a great opportunity for companies in Wales to showcase their success through e-commerce and show how it has made a difference to their company."

Ann Beynon, BT Wales national manager, said: "We really encourage companies in Wales who have used e-commerce to enter.

The awards are not exclusively aimed at dot.com companies.

Further information and entry forms can be found on the website, ecommerce-awards.co.uk and the entry deadline is May 17.

Economic development minister Andrew Davies said an increasing number of businesses recognised the potential of trading online.

"The scope for Welsh businesses to buy and sell on an international scale expands considerably," he said.

"The internet has no geographical or economic barriers, and almost anyone with a sound business idea and a means of producing and distributing that idea can set-up and trade online.

"These awards recognise the pioneering spirit and diversity of companies that have fully embraced the age of the internet."

The Welsh winners of the 2001 awards were husband and wife team the Kennards, who run Llandrindod Wells-based Graig Farm Organics, a leading and innovative supplier of organic foods to the trade and public.

The regional e-commerce awards in Wales take place on June 21 at the National Botanical Gardens of Wales in Carmarthenshire.